​

#1.75 percent of high school seniors are accepted to their first-choice colleges; but less than 57 percent can afford to attend, according to a UCLA study.

That’s a 40-year low. Financing college was the largest factor the surveyed high school seniors cited for not attending their top choice college after being admitted.

Therefore, you must investigate the college’s financial aid programs before you apply. Do they offer merit aid in the form of scholarships and grants? What percentage of accepted students receives college-based financial aid? What is the average financial aid award? Source

#2. Only 0.4 percent of undergraduates attend one of the Ivy League schools. There are over 6,000 accredited institutions of higher learning in this country. Source

#3. Harvard College is suspected of grade inflation. The median grade is an A-, and the most frequently awarded mark is an A. Source

#4. 14 of the world’s 25 largest stadiums belong to American college football teams. Source

#5. The cost of college textbooks has risen 812% in the past 30 years. That’s more than healthcare costs, housing prices, and college tuitions, all of which have risen faster than the rate of inflation. Source